Gulshan Kumar murder case: Bombay HC upholds conviction of Dawood aide Abdul Rauf

The Bombay High Court on Thursday confirmed the 2002 trial court verdict acquitting TIPS co-founder Ramesh Taurani, and convicting Abdul Rauf Merchant in the 1997 murder of T-series owner Gulshan Kumar.

The brothers were found guilty of murder (302), common intention (34) of IPC and under 27 of the Arms Act. The court additionally found them guilty u/s 120B (conspiracy) of the IPC.

The court pronounced the order on Maharashtra Government’s appeal against Taurani’s and Abdul Rashid Merchant’s acquittal and Merchant’s appeal againsthis conviction and life sentence.

A Bench of Justices SS Jadhav and NR Borkar, however, reversed Rauf’s conviction for the offences under 392 and 397 of IPC.

“It is a matter of record that the appellant had absconded soon after the incident in August, 1997 and could be arrested only in 2001. The appellant was enlarged on furlough in 2009 and he had not surrendered within the stipulated time. He was arrested in November 2016. The appellant has criminal antecedents, and he continued in the similar criminal activities thereafter also. Hence, in the interest of justice and society at large the appellant does not deserve any leniency.” The Court observed.